Previous Projects with Cox Architecture t/a Cox Rayner:

National Maritime Museum of China

Tianjin, China, 2012-16

Client

Architect

Cox Architecture in association with Tianjin Architecture and Design Institute

Project Director

Jayson Blight

Involved in Design

Michael Rayner

Cox Architecture t/a Cox Rayner Awards

World Architecture Festival Future Project of the Year 2013 • World Architecture Festival Future Cultural Project of the Year Award 2013 • World Architecture Festival Competition Project of the Year Award 2013

Won in international competition in 2011, the museum consists of five undulating pavilions which radiate out, from a pivotal arrival space. This composition enables each pavilion to associate with the Binhai bay over which the pavilions cantilever some 30 metres, part protecting floating pontoon exhibits. The museum was conceived to form a piece of land art rising out of a new park., the undulations varying the scale for different size artefacts. Several metaphors arose sub-consciously from the form – an open hand across the water, ships tread in port, sea anemone, starfish, jumping carp. Without literal reference, some are accentuated, such as in the geometric pattern and textures of the cladding, also designed to shed heavy snow loads. The museum is due to open in late 2018 and will be powered by geothermal energy from the site’s depth.